Unknown Bird from PNG (1 Viewer)

[Joe H]

I photographed this bird in the hills above Rabaul, New Britain Island, PNG on 4 March 2010. We were at about 350 meters elevation in a primary forest near a sports field. For size comparison, the Moustached Treeswift is 28 – 30 centimeters long.

I’ve never been able to ID the bird but thought I’d ask for some pointers here. My first thought was that it might be a Monarch of some kind. See the picture below of a Black-tailed Monarch. It has the jagged wing marking but overall slightly wrong shape and the tail in the photos looks shorter.

The unknown bird’s bill looks more like a larger honeyeater to me. The belly and breast of the bird looks like it might be dark. Compared to the treeswifts, I don’t think it’s just a shadow but it could be.

I don’t have much access to bird guides of that region but if anyone could offer any suggestions I’d really appreciate it. I readily acknowledge that based on such poor pictures, a positive ID may not be possible.

Thank you!

 

[sicklebill]

I am thinking it may be a Cicadabird moulting into adult male plumage, hence the dark spots, presumably heinrothi here which may be a split as Bismarck Cicadabird

 

[THE_FERN]

I am thinking it may be a Cicadabird moulting into adult male plumage, hence the dark spots, presumably heinrothi here which may be a split as Bismarck Cicadabird

Something like that. I got a vague oriole/figbird feeling. Certainly no monarch

 

[Joe H]

Thank you both for the input! Definitely not a monarch. My only guide from those days is a photographic one of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. It’s got pictures of the Common Cicadabird and Black-bellied Cuckoo Shrike but only descriptive notes for five other similar species. I never considered intermediate molts. I’ll do some more internet checking, but given the poor quality of the photo this one will probably remain questionable, but your suggestions sure help narrow it in. Thanks!

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

I would trust Sicklebill’s input; after all, he did write the book!

 

[Butty]

he did write the book!

Which one?

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

The Lynx NG field guide.

 

[Joe H]

Thanks for mentioning and identifying the book! It's an honor having guidance from a field guide author. Many thanks again. I'll keep an eye out for the possibility that heinrothi gets split from Common or lumped with Melenasian.

 

[Indobirder]

How about Singing Starling?

 

[sicklebill]

A good suggestion, can't see an orange eye though

 

[Butty]

can't see an orange eye though

!
...in a photo of this quality?! 🤔

 

[THE_FERN]

!
...in a photo of this quality?! 🤔

I agree there should be a hint if it were there—and yes in a photo of this quality.